The San Francisco Unicorns have announced a star-studded lineup of investors from the world of Silicon Valley and Hollywood as it gears up for its third full season of Cognizant Major League Cricket (MLC).
The investor group includes Shantanu Narayen, Chairman and CEO, Adobe; Neal Mohan, CEO, YouTube; Divesh Makan, Founder and CEO, ICONIQ Capital; and Kunal Nayyar, Actor, The Big Bang Theory.
The top-tier tech leaders, entrepreneurs, institutional figures, and global entertainers are all united by their passion for cricket and the future of the sport in the United States.
The San Francisco Unicorns investor group includes:
- Shantanu Narayen, Chairman & CEO, Adobe
- Neal Mohan, CEO, YouTube
- Divesh Makan, Founder & CEO, ICONIQ Capital
- Kunal Nayyar, Actor, The Big Bang Theory
- Aditya Agarwal, Former CTO, Dropbox
- Neeraj Arora, Former Chief Business Officer, WhatsApp
- Kashyap Deorah, Founder & CEO, HyperTrack
- Venky Ganesan, Managing Director, Menlo Ventures
- Schwark Satyavolu, General Partner, Trinity Ventures; Co-founder, Yodlee
- Shashin Shah, Managing Partner, Think Investments
- Amit Singhal, Former SVP of Search, Google
- UC Investments (The University of California)
The San Francisco Unicorns’ Principal Owners and Managing Partners are Silicon Valley pioneers and rocketship.vc founding partners Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan. Known for their data science and AI expertise and vision at companies like Junglee (acquired by Amazon) and Kosmix (acquired by Walmart) and their investment acumen, being among the earliest investors in Facebook (Meta), Rajaraman and Harinarayan bring their deep ties to the Bay Area tech and investment communities in rallying support for cricket’s rise in the U.S.
“This world-class group of investors brings deep strategic expertise and a shared vision for growing the game of cricket in the Bay Area and across the United States,” said Rajaraman. “With their support, we’re building a team that reflects the global spirit of the sport and the innovation-driven culture of the Bay Area.”
British-born Indian actor and producer Kunal Nayyar, best known for his role as Raj Koothrappali on The Big Bang Theory, has joined the San Francisco Unicorns’ investor group as a longtime cricket enthusiast, bringing both star power and a deep personal connection to the sport as the team enters its next phase of growth.
“Growing up in New Delhi, cricket has always been close to my heart. It’s a game that unites people across cultures and continents,” said Nayyar. “I’m proud to support the San Francisco Unicorns as they help bring world-class cricket to the U.S. and inspire a new generation of fans.”
The Unicorns are preparing for the upcoming 2025 season of Cognizant Major League Cricket, which begins June 12, with home matches played at the iconic Oakland Coliseum. In just its third season, the franchise is drawing global attention thanks to its diverse talent, high-profile fan base, and commitment to community engagement.
In addition to its investment backing, the San Francisco Unicorns are supported by major partners, including Qualys and Toyota. The team, which reached the MLC Championship game last season, is led on the field by Head Coach and former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson and features Australian stars Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Cooper Connolly, New Zealand international Finn Allen, 2019 World Cup champion Liam Plunkett, former USA captain Corey Anderson, West Indian T20 specialist Romario Shepherd, and local Bay Area talent Sanjay Krishnamurthi.